Shoe-fastener.



W. H. POWELL.

SHOE FASTBNER. APPLICATION FILED 0017, 1912.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

ITED sra'rn SHOE-FASTENER.

5 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

, Application filed October 7, 1912. Serial No. 724,329.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY PownLL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to an improved shoe fastening and has for its object the provision of a fastening of this character which is of simple construction and eflicient in operation.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in a which, 7

Figure 1 is a perspective view of ashoe equipped with a fastening embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the fastening shown as applied to theshoe upper and also shown in open position, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken through the fastening, Fig. 4 is an interior elevation of a locking plate employed on a left shoe, Fig. 5 is an interior elevation of a locking plate employed on a right shoe, Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed section through one of the edges of the shoe upper, and Fig. 7 is a view similar to .Fig. 2 showing a modified form of construction.

The form of construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 comprises metallic plates 1 having upwardly turned flanges 2 and provided with a central securing slot 3 and a securing projection 4 at each end. One of these plates is secured to the front edge of the shoe upper at each side of the opening therein, a portion of the edge of the shoe upper being passed through slot 3 and other portions being folded over projections 4, as indicated in the drawings. Each of said plates 1 is provided with looking teeth 5 at the bond between the flange 2 and the body of the plate, as shown. A locking plate 6 is provided with inwardly turned convergent flanges which are adaptcd to engage both of the flanges 2'on a shoe and hold the front edges of the upper together. One of the flanges 7 of each of the locking plates is provided on its edge with looking teeth 8 for substantially its full-length, said teeth being adapted'to en gage the teeth 5 in the corresponding plate 1. The other flange 7 on each of the 00king plates 6 is provided at its lower portion 7 with locking teeth 9, at its central portion with a recess 10 andat its upper portion with a smooth edge 10, as shown in Figs.

4 and 5. The flange having therecess 10 and the portion 10 is designed to be positioned on the inner edge of the shoe upper so that the plates for the left and .right shoes have the flanges reversed, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. A leather thong 11. is secured to each of the plates 6 and also to the tongue of the shoe so as tofasten the plate to the corresponding shoe and to prevent its loss, and so that the thong will be concealed when the locking plate is in position.

'In use the shoe is fastened on the foot by placing the upper or more distended ends of flanges 7 over the lower edges of the flanges 2 and pressing the plate upwardly. As flanges 7 travel upwardly with reference to flanges 2, said flanges 2, and consequently the edges of the upper of the shoe, will be drawn toward each other, thus securing the edges of the upper together and the fastening in position. The teeth 8 and 9 are then engaged with teeth 5 to serve to lock the fastening in position. The recesses 10 between teeth 9 and smooth portions 10 are provided to insure secure engagement of teeth 9 with corresponding teeth 5. Each smooth portion 10 and the curved surface at the top thereof ride upon corresponding teeth 5 by applying force on the upper corner of the fastening plate 6 to disengage or lessen the friction between teeth 9 and 5 and teeth 8 and 5 during adjusting said plate to and removing it from operative position., thereby facilitating application of the fastening. In case the shoe upper stretches so that the fastening plate has not sufficient drawing action to effect the proper tightening of the shoe upper, a somewhat smaller plate may be employed.

In the form of construction illustrated in Fig. 7, the projections 4 are omitted from plate 1 and locking plate 6 is provided with slots 6" for reception of an ornamental ribbon, such construction being especially adapted .for' usejon l adies shoes.

\VhileI,havefillustrated and described the preferred forniof construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variationand modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come Within the scope of theappended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is; I

1. The combination with a shoe of metal licplates,secured to the front edges of the shoe upper, said plates being provided with outwardly turned flanges and there being teeth formed at the bend between the flanges and plates; and a locking plate having convergent flanges on its edges adapted to engage said first mentioned flanges, the edge of one of the flanges on said locking plate being provided with teeth for substantially its full length and the edge of the other flange being provided with teeth at its lower portion, recessed at its central portion and smooth at its upper portion, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a shoe of metallic plates secured to the front edges of the shoe upper, said plates being provided with outwardly turned flanges having indentations in the angular juncture between the flanges and plates forming teeth; and a locking plate having converging flanges on its edges adapted to engage said first mentioned flanges, the edge of one of the flanges on said locking plate being provided with teeth for substantially'its full length and the edge of the other flange being provided with teeth at its lower portion,,recessed at its central portion to permit engagement of the teeth on said lower portion with corresponding teethf; on one of said metallic plates, and smooth at its upper portion forming a fulcrum between said locking plate and one of said metallic plates to fathe fastening, substari-- cilitate adjusting tially as described. 7

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

\VILLIAM HENRY POWELL.

Witnesses:

JOSHUA R. H. Form, A. A. OLSON. 

